The Trial Chamber has ordered the return of the former chief of Serbian State Security Service Jovica Stanisic and the Special Operations Units commander Franko Simatovic to The Hague by Monday, 4 May 2009. The trial is scheduled to restart on 25 May 2009


After a one-year adjournment, the trial of Jovica Stanisic, former chief of the Serbian State Security Service, and his deputy Franko Simatovic is scheduled to restart on 25 May 2009 with the opening statement of the prosecution. In May 2008, the Appeals Chamber decided to adjourn the trial which had barely started for a period of three to six months because of Stanisic’s ill physical and mental health.

Taking into consideration the reports of two independent experts retained by the ICTY Registry – gastroenterologist Siersma and psychiatrist De Man – the Chamber ruled that ‘mentally Stanisic is not unable to effectively participate in the trial’ adding that his physical condition was ‘more or less stable’. The Trial Chamber agreed with suggestion of both experts that the trial schedule be adjusted to take into account Stanisic’s health. The judges, however, rejected the prosecution motion that Stanisic continue his treatment at the Pieter Baan Institute in Utrecht, deeming that it ‘will not benefit the accused’.

Stanisic and Simatovic are ordered to return to the UN Detention Unit by 4 May 2009. There will be a status conference eight days later, and on 18 May 2009 there will be pre-trial conference before the trial, scheduled to start on 25 May 2009. The prosecution is expected to call its first witnesses on 2 and 3 June 2009. The Trial Chamber with judge Alphons Orie presiding and judges Flavia Lattanzi and Michele Picard decided that at first the trial should go on for only two working days a week.

The trial of the former Serbian state security heads opened on 24 April 2008 after several adjournments. Because of Stanisic’s ill health, the trial was suspended after the first witness gave evidence. Stanisic and Simatovic are charged with crimes committed by members of Serbian police and paramilitary troops in Croatia and BH from 1991 to 1995.

Sharing